The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-31
THE IDEAL PRESIDENT.
A Jussses on the Qualities OF .
presidential Candidate.

RRe0IOsnubnh
Gv.,b,prtop Special Chicago Inter ocesn.l
A member of the United States
Supreme Court, who knows all prom.
inent public men, 'and who himself
has often been upon the verge OF pol
tiles was talking of the political sit:
nation, and your correspondent asked
him this: "What do you think about
tbe next Presidential nomination in
the two parties?" He answered; II
am. of course, removed from the
whirl and hustle, the controversy
and turmoil OF politics, and always
shall be; but am still an American
citizen and | see much Of the PEOPLE.
Names / do not care to mention, but
| can give you my idea as TO the
cbaractoristics of the men whom, l
think, the two parties ought to nom
mate in order to commend them
selves most to the American people.
We have been living of late at rap
id pace. 1t hos been an era OF inaa.
ton, and we have drifted good deal
from the moorings OF the fathers In
commerce, social life and politics,
end | believe that the people are
quite ready to get back TO simple
ways and plain men. | believe that
the people think something ike this.
They do not want an ease and pleas
ure loving man as their chief magis-
trate. They 90 not want man who
will make a brilliant administra-
ton, and who will bring to the
White House the manners OF society
and q stud of horses, a four in hand
and French cooks. The common
people do not like these things in
their rulers, or in the men who are
counselors to them rulers. And any
administration will be injured with
the people, the Chief Executive or
the Cabinet members Of which are
addicted to so much style as one sees
and reads about, no matter whore.
The farmers OF the country, for in
stance, and the men who work in the
mines know enough about Q paper
hunt, and about all such triAing
things as that, TO know that they do
not think such matters are serious
enough 10 command the attention OF
an administration. The people, i
think, do not care 10 have city man
in the Presidential Office. The men
who have generally succeeded in
getting there have come from the
peoples ranks. They have been
men whose clothes have never fitted
too we'll, and who have spent more
time behind the pillow than in the
drawing room. City manners, ii they
had them, they acquired alter they
gained the Presidency, or had lett it..
They were men from the farm or
from the battlefield. They did not
possess. and probably they seorned,
mapy of the arts and graccs Of socie-
~. They were near TO the people IN
their thoughts. and in their lives;
They did not wear kid gloves, aud
never drove n four.in.hand, except
perhaps. before stage, reaplng ma,
chine or an artillery wagon. put
they could fell a tree and turn iur,
row They we've men Of Drawn and
rristle. They did not tnru the night
into a working day. They did not
choose their private chums from
among any n their old.time two
bottle companions. ifsuch they had.
They we're simple, plain and earnest
men OF the people, early at their
desks and early in their habits, Sc
cessiblc. blunt, open. hearted. But
they would have been taken anywhere
in a crowd for leaders. They never
would have been mistaken any
whore for fops. They told the
truth: thew had q human sympathy
with the American people; they had
s,rurplcd from the bottom 10 the top
they had pleasing ways and q com
manding presence; their names
touched the chords Of human sym
pa,hy in tho multitude Of American
homes. They were mon o. brains
Of honor, of courage. They believed
the family was the unit Of the socia
structure. There was no dishonol
in their maths. Those have been ID,
characteristics Of many Of the rre,
men who have been Presidents o
our country. II the Republican
partv has such = man he should b,
nominated IN the convention. and.
think. would be elected. There ar
such men in this country. Their
are not too many Of them who min
Gle with politics"